Sports news from Los Angeles and beyond

Forget Chris Paul: Richard Hamilton goes to Bulls

December 15, 2011 | 11:24
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Lost in the shuffle of the Clippers acquiring Chris Paul on Wednesday was the news that the Chicago Bulls signed shooting guard Richard Hamilton, who was recently waived by Detroit. The signing makes the Bulls a team to reckon with in the Eastern Conference.

“With him, I’m going to have a lot more assists this year,” Bulls point guard Derrick Rose said.

Hamilton helped the Pistons win the 2004 title and led the Pistons to six straight conference finals. He averaged 14.1 points a game last season.

“Rip has been a winner at every level,” Bulls General Manager Gar Forman said. “His resume speaks for itself, and we are confident that he will be an excellent fit with our team, both on and off the floor.”

The Pistons bought out the final two years of Hamilton’s contract for $11 million, to free up a total of $8 million in cap space over the next two seasons.

"We thank Richard Hamilton for his time here with the Pistons organization," said Joe Dumars, Pistons' president of basketball operations. "Rip was a champion with us and a big part of our success over the last nine years. We wish him all the best in the future."

So, a Clippers-Bulls NBA Finals? OK, that may be a bit premature, but things just got a lot more interesting in the East and the West.